Plug cap



Dec. 21 1926.

L. BARNETT PLUG CAP Filed March 1925 INVENTOR L ou/s 56W: 77'

ATTORNEY tours hammer, on new scan, it.

Application filed March 26, 1925. Serial No. 18,360.

This invention relates to attachment fit:

tings for electric circuits and more particu-' larly is directed to improvements in the cap portion of two-piece, separable, electrical attachment plugs for connecting portable appliances, lighting systems and the like apparatus to an electric power source.

An objectof the invention is the provision of an improved attachment piug-cap of the character described which shall be constructed of few and simple parts cheap to.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described and of which the scope of application will be indicated in the following claims.

lln the accompanying drawing, in which is shown one of the various possible illustrative embodiments of this invention,

Fig. 1 is a sectional View of an attachment plug-cap embodying the invention, showing one practical application of the invention in connecting a plurality of circuits to one power source;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the attachmentplug-cap shown in'Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on lines 3-3 in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4: is an elevational View of a modified form of the plug-cap embodying the invention having a compactly shape body portion. v

Referring in detail to the drawing, 10 denotes a plug-cap embodying the invention adapted to be inserted into a baseboard,

flush-receptacle or fixture socket outlet (not shown) in the well known manner. The plug-cap 10 may comprise a body portion 11 formed of insulating material such as porcelain, bakelite, or other like suitable substance and metallic current carrying portions 12. The latter may be secured in any suitable manner to the insulating body portion 11 as by means of metallic eyelet-anchors'13 which are preferably molded into the 'body portion as shown in Fig, 3. The current carrying portions 12 may comprlsetcrminal blades 1d extending outwardly from one side of the body portion 11 and spring contacting members 15 of any suitable construction extending into the socket portions or passage openings 11 provided in the body portion. The terminal blades 1% and the contact members 15 are formed with fiat extensions l l and 15 respectively,

whereby they are firmly secured to the body portion 11 by means of said eyelet anchorsture. The contact members 15 extend only partially into the opening 11 eliminating possible short circuits or injury to persons handling the device. If desired, each member 15 may be provided with a spring protubcrence 15 adjacent the extension 15 for releasably engaging with an opening 14 in the terininal blade 14. Binding screws 16 are provided for securing the ends of a conductor wire 17 to the terminal extension 14 as shown in Fig.

A dominant feature of the invention resides in the construction of the various parts of the plug-cap 10 and their relative arrangement which will now be described. As shown in Fig. 1, the passage opening 11 and the contacting member 15 are disposed in angular relation with respect to the terminal blades 14. A through passage 11" is provided in the body portion 11 and extends inangular relation to the said members 15 and blade 14: for connecting the conductor wires 17 to the current carrying portions 12. The interior of the body portion is preferably formed with a hollow or cavity 119 for receiving the knotted ends 17 of the con- .ductor wires 17 thereby providing an eilicient and practical strain relief for the conductor wire connections to the binding screws 16.

In fact, where'a plurality of circuits such as standard Christmas tree lighting units and the like electrical appliances are to connected to one supply source, this cap is particularly useful since it provides a quick means for adding one or more such units with the caps arranged. in a most inconspicuous and convenient manner. .Another advantage following from the angular rela tion of one cap with its contiguous cap and of the parts of the cap to the body thereof is that a normal outward pull on the connecting wires will not be transmitted hill bomb

' connection of a circuit.

to the separable current carr ing Harts, thus minimizing the possibility o acci ental dieance, lighting device, etc. (not shown) and the well known manner.

the terminal blades 14: of said plug cap are inserted into a receptacle may successively be connected in circuit by simply plugging in the terminal blades 14 of its plug-cap into the socket openings .11- of the plug cap alread connected in circuit to contact with t e members 15 as shown in Fig. 1. f

From the drawing and description given above, it is seen that plug-cap 10 is of simple construction and permits connecting a circuit to the. power supply from a side away from the receiving or socket end thereof, so that another plug-cap may be connected in at the socket end without in any way interfering with the conductor wires 17 thereof.

It will also be noted that by reason of the novel relative arrangement and construction of the parts of the cap, a series of plug caps 10 can be arranged either in a cluster about the first plug-cap as shown in Fig. 1

or may be extended rearwardly of the first plug-cap by insertingthe second one into the first in 180 angular relation to its position shown in Fig. 1. L

i It will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which the several objects of this invention are achieved and which is well adapted to meet the conditions'of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be (power outlet in, Patent ther apparatus made of the above invention, and asvarious changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I 'claimas new and desire to. secure by Letters 1. A plug-cap of the character described comprising an insulated body portion havingsocket openings, and current carryin portions securedto the body portion, sai

current carryingportions including spring contact members extending within said socket openings and terminal blades-"projecting from one side of said. body portion at a greater than 90-degree angular relation to said contact members, said body portion having a passage extending intermediate said contact members and blades, said passage being adapted to receive a conductor wire for connecting a parallel circuit to the current carrying portions of the plug-cap.

2. A plug-cap of the character described comprising an insulated body having two fiat face portions inclined at an angle with respect to each other, one ofsaid face por-.

tions having socket openings-extending per pendicularly thereto intothe body, current carrying means consisting of spring contact members positioned in said openings, and terminal blades projecting outwardly from the other of said face portions, said body having an outlet passage between said face portion communicating with the inner ends of said socket openings, as and for the purpose described and specified. In testimony whereof I aflix my si ature.

LOUIS BARN TT. 

